Road-grading machine.



'J. G. MILLER. ROAD GKADING monmn.

APPLIUATION IILED DEG-.16, 1911.

Patented Oct. 20,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 V A x i A p J. G. MILLER.

ROAD GRADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1:20.15, 1911.

1, 1 1 4, 1 73, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOm-L|THO.. WASHINGYYIN n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TOFIHIE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Bonn-GRADING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN G. MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ,Road- Grading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved constructionfor road grading machines; to provide an improved mounting of the scraper on the supporting structure; to provide improved means for maintaining the angularity of the scraper with respect to the direction of travel; to provide improved means for controlling the vertical adjustment of the scraper; and to provide improved means for effecting the sidewise shifting of the rear wheels with respect to the direction of 'travelofthe scraper.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention as applied to a road scraping and grading machine is shown in the secondpanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rear portion of the machine.

In the form shown in the drawings, the machine comprises a supporting structure carried by a pair of trucks located at the forward and rear ends thereof, and a scraper controlled by lever mechanism mounted on the supporting structure. The supporting structure comprises a pair of frames 1 and 2, carried by therear truck 3 and forward truck 4:, and pivotally connected together at 5 intermediate of said trucks. The frame 1 is of bent bar con struction', and comprises the main member 6 supported by braces 7 and 8 above the platform 9, and on which the operating mechanism is mounted, as will hereinafter appear. The frame 2 is preferably a draft beam or a reach, having its outer end connected to the truck 4: by means of a rod or pintle 10, rotatably mounted in plates secured to the end of the reach. is rigidly held at its lower end between the clamp plates 11 by means of the bolt or pin 12, and the clamp plates 11 are pivotally connected at 13 to the aXle 14 of the front truck 4; to allow a transverse racking of the truck in a vertical plane with respect to the supporting structure. The tongue or draft 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

The rod 10 appliance 15 is connectedto the rod 10 I so that the center line of the tongue 15 in alinement'w'ith reach 2, for obvious reasons. A scraper 18. of the usualcurved shape Patented Oct. 20, 1914. Application filed December 15, 1911. SerialNo. 66,007.

the center line of the is suspended beneath the supporting structure by a pintle 19, having a pad or plate 20, riveted to the scraper. The pintle 19 is journaled on a plate 19.1 secured. to the reach 2, rearward of the pivotal connection 5 of the two frames in such a manner as will allow the scraper to be swung in a horizontal plane to different angular positions with respect to the direction of travel, and also in a vertical plane for the purpose of altering the depth of the out made by its extremities. A semi-circular, segmental member 21, preferably of angle iron, has its ends bent downwardly and riveted to the back of the scraper 18. A clip or keeper 22 is secured to the under side of the rear portion of the reach 2, and is adapted to embrace thesegmental member 21 and coact therewith in supporting the scraper. A pin 23, extending downwardly through the reach 2, is adapted to be receivedin apertures2 1 in the segmental member 21, for adjusting and maintaining the angularity of the scraper with respect to the direction of travel. v

In order to avoid excessive strains and assist. in positively maintaining the angularity of the scraper 18 with respect to the direction of travel, a guy connection 25 is employed for connecting the forward end of the scraper to the reach 2. The guy connection comprises a pair of rods connected togetherbya turnbuckle 26, one of therods having its end inserted into the aperture 27 of one ofthe plates orlugs 28 riveted to opposite ends of the scraper l8, 'andsecured b a, t 29. The other rod of the guy'connection has a chain 30 connected thereto," the links of. which are adapted to engage one of the hooks 31,, of which there is one on each side of thereach 2. The chains allow the guy to be adpisted to suit the angular position of the scraper.

The adjustment of the scraper for regulating the lateral slope of the cut is-controlled by means of levers 32, of which there isone at either side of the frame 1. These levers are pivoted. at 33 to an arm, which also has formed thereon a notched segment apertures- 24, and then swung down below the segmental member 21, as is shown at 1 the right of 1 1g. 1. A-loclnng ring 3! is arranged to embrace the link 34 and the hook 36 for securing them against accidental disengagement from the segmental member 21.

The mechanism for obtaining a relative shifting of the frames 1 and 2, for raising and lowering the scraper. 18, comprises a le' ver 38 secured to the end of a shaft 3-9 supported in a bearing 40 on the cross bar 41. The shaft 39 has a transversely disposed arm 42, bifurcated at its forward end, so as to receive a linl: 43, the lower end of which is secured between the ears 44 of a plate at tached t0 the reach 2. A notched segment 45 is arranged to coact with the usual locking detent on the lever for locking the latter in different angular positions. A spring 45 is connected at one end to the link 43 and at its other end to a hook 47 secured to the cross-bar 41, and normally urges the rearward end of the reach 2 in the upward di- 4 rection so as to counter-balance the weight of the scraper.

The supporting structure is provided with rectangular members 48 suitably secured to the braces 8 and the platform 9, and adapted to have sliding engagement with the axle 49 of the rear truck 3. A rack 50 is secured to the axle 49, and meshes with a pinion 51, which is secured to the end of the shaft 52, journaled in a bearing 53 and carrying at its upper end a hand wheel 54. Rotation of the hand wheel causes the pinion 51 to shift the supporting structure along the axle 49. A seat 55 is secured to the upper end of a brace 56, which is slid ably mounted in a recess 57 on the platform 7, being secured in any position of adjustment by means of the bolt 58. The wheels of the rear truck are provided with the usual annular flanges 59, to prevent transverse shifting of the truck when the scraper 181s in operation.

The operation of the device shown is as follows :The scraper 18.1nay be set to a desired angle with respect to the direction of travel, by Withdrawing the pin .23 and swinging the scraper on the pintle 19. After the scraper is set, it may be locked in position by inserting the pin into one of the apertures 24. The guy connection is then attached to the lug on the forward end of the scraper, and to the respective hook 31, so as to positively maintain the angularity of the scraper 18 with respect to the direction of travel and relieve the other connections from excessive strain. The lever 32, at the side of the machine opposite that on which the guy connection is arranged, is connected. to the segmental member 21 means of the part 235 and heel: 36, as licrcinbefore explained. The manipulation of said lever determines the lateral slope of the scraper. By operating the'lever 38, the frames 1 and 2 may be given a relative movement so as to rcgulate the elevation of the scraper 18 with respect to the wheel base of the machine. The scraper 18 may also be shifted bodily in ahorizontal direction by turning the hand wheel 54, which will cause the pinion 51 and rack 50 to shift the supporting structure along the axle 4?). The machine follows the direction of the pull. on the draft appliance 15, since the turning of the rod 10 turns the front truck. The pivotal connection of the axle 1-4 of the truck to the clamp plates 11 permits the front truck to tilt laterally with respect to the frame structure when traveling over uneven ground, without interfering with the operation of the scraper.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein snown and doscribcd, it will be uinlcrstood that munerous details of tle construction shown ma be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as d .lincd by the following claim.

I claim in a road grading machine, the combination of a supporting striuture, a scraper suspended from said structure and shifcablc in a horizontal plane, a segmental member carried by said scraper, .uieuns on said structure adapted to coact with said segmental member for adjusting the angular position of said scraper with respect to the direction of travel, levers located at opposite sides of said structure, and links attached to said lever and adapted to be separatol y connected Qgptgs at this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZPatents,

' Washington, D. G. 

